The Washington critic., 1887-01-10
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

at Senator Stewards residence by ap-
pontment, when he Informed me that
colored woman, formerly slave, had
been 10 New York soliciting subscrip-
tions for the purpose of raising money
TO purchase the freedom of her daugh.
ter, about twelve years old who was
slave. His friends, fearing TO trust so
large sum (nearly $1,000 to the
woman, as she might lose 1t, had sent
the money TO him, with n request that
he would make the purchase. Mr..
Seward had met with some trouble
arising from the fact that the owner of
the girl would not accept his check,
and demanded the payment TO be male
personally in gold or Virginia State
bank notes. Colonel McNair had ad.
vised him to apply TO me, as / was
from that portion OF Virginia. | told
him TO send the woman to the Freler.
icksburg steamer In the morning, where
would meet her. Mr.. Seward handed
me the gold in shot bag, with re
quest that should couptit. suggested
to him that as he was buying negroes
had some l would like TO sell him.
lie laughingly replied that his ances
tors had by their votes relieved him
from all connection with the institu.
tion. We landed next day at Evans.
port (now Potomac), drove ten miles to
Judge WIS residence, paid him in
gold, for which he made large dis
count, and after pleasant evening
with my esteemed friend, the Judge,
with the bill of sale In my pocket, and
accompanied by the two women, re-
turned TO relatives near Dumfries,
and next day to Washington. When
gave the balance of the money, with
the bill of sale, TO Mr.. Sewa In the
Senate Chamber, he took me by both
hands and said | was not aware how
much he was relieved, and should 1t
ever be in his power to oblige me to
- call on him and he would show he was
not ungrateful.
~
The winter before General Arthur
was nominated for Vice. President, says
the New York Sun, he was up to his
cars In politics, mainly in connection
with Grants nomination for the third
term. One evening, after rather eN.
citing meeting with politicians, Arthur
went with some of them to get some
oysters. There were General Sharpe,
then in the flush of his success as win.
ner in the Speakership fight; Ham.
Ward, then Attorney General, and
thought still to have political future;
Humming Bird Burleigh the Bald
Eagle, and some others. They were all
confident of Grants denomination, ex-
cept Hustled. He was as mum as
mute. A little man, with his head
mufiled in an immense fur collar, came
in for his midnight lunch. lie was
newspaper man. lie caught Husted's
wonderfully expressive right eye, and
asked pleasantly what they were doing.
Making a President, Dan, but you
and ! could give EN- points on
it. Couldn't we, Dan. ?" Dan smiled
and swallowed an oyster. He was Dan.
70 Lamont. Some two years after General
Arthur, then President, was chatting
with one of the party of that night.
The occasion was recalled by some
chance, and 1t was suggested to the
President that there would have been
surprise had some prophet told those
politicians then that one Of their mum.
Der would lie President within cigh.
teen months. General Arthur replied
that either Sharpe or Hustled would
have been picked out as the man.
Sharpe seemed then well started on a
lucky path in politics, and General
Arthur knew of Husted's Vice. Prcsi-
dental aspirations.
~a~
Referring to the Senatorial contest in
Massachusetts,, the Worlds Boston cor
respondent says; Dawes and Long are
only well to do. Dawes has always en-
joyed large practice in Berkshire
Ills family expenses have been gener-
Gus and his services in Washington
have cost him his private business.
He bas a good home in Pittsfield.
When John d. Long left the law bust.
ness ten years ago 10 enter public life
he had probably saved $50, 600 as the
result of fifteen years of work. He
owns house on Beacon street, which
he rents, and commodious mansion
at bingham, The property of the first
Mrs. Long, which amounted TO $3.50, :.
900, was left to the Congressman two
daughters, SO there Is practically no
money In the Senatorial fight.
~.
A current story In Washington circles
even yet, says the Portland Oregoa,aa,
is that at the funeral of Colonel Baker
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln wore a lilac silk
dress, with bonnet and gloves to match
She was much ridiculcd at the time by
the papers, and Washington society
circles felt outraged. So much was
said Of it that ladies who wished heI
well at last persuaded an intimate
friend of Mrs. Lincoln's to tell her OF
the impropriety. The friend went tc
see her, barely worked up to the poln,
of remonstrance. Mrs. Lincoln mel
her in the vcstibule, eXeaiming: II
am so glad you have come, | am just
MS mad as | can be. Mrs Crittender
has just been here to demonstrate with
me for wearing my lilac suit TO Colone
Bakers funeral. / wonder if this
women of Washington expect me tc
munle myself up in mourning for
+, every soldier killed in this great war.
The lady here said; "3ut, Mrs. Lin
coin, do you not think black more
suitable to wear at a funeral because
there Is a great war IN the nation p
"No, don't. ] want the women to mind
their own business, intend to weal
what | please
~
I'VE are glad the dear old man /,
married at last 1t will make the Cabl
net pleasauter to have another WON IN
|. You know, and, of course. he will be
Happier, too" This was just one o